The Hawk Eye newspaper in Burlington says undercover Des Moines County sheriff's deputies went to the Bucktail Lodge on May 8 and discovered the mouse racing operation with people places bets.

Authorities say several mice were found in cages and bets were described as over any legal limit.

Scott Beach says the only information he has been able to get from officials is that he doesn't have a gambling license. The 49-year-old Beach says there is nothing wrong with the races, which he has held for the past five years.